Best head unit in the $250 price range

[toolfan8102]

I have been using a JVC kdsh99 for about 5 years now, I would definatly reccomend it. I am powering a 6.5" infinity componant system and I don't get any distortion when its cranked. check them out!

[pimprolla112]

Speakers good. As for JVC, i wouldnt recomend those as a budget unit. Even the arsenal series isnt that great. But everyone has there preference. Also i have been through 2 jvc units one stopped working the other one started smoking.

[mariachi153]

I would take a look at the Sony CDX-GT805DX
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ivM8eKV...=detailed_info

It has a lot of features that is vital for sound quality and sound imaging

- Intelligent Time Alignment (I-TA) (puts you in the center of the
sound stage/ can customize it for each speaker)
- DSO 3d (Allows you to adjust virtual elevation, depth, width)
- BBE MP (comes mostly with all sony head units)
- 3-pair 4V preamps output
- Subwoofer pre-amp channel
- Line-in
- HDEQ (Allows you to adjust each speaker (FL, FR, RL, and RR)
independently)
(63 Hz, 100Hz, 160Hz, 250Hz, 400Hz, 630Hz, 1kHz, 1.6kHz, 2.5kHz,
4kHz, 6.3kHz, 10kHz, and 16kHz) +/- 6dB
- CD Changer control
- WMA, MP3, atrac
- DRIVE S HX (Sony's high end sound chassis, high-end audio caps)
- Advanced fluorescent display
- 24 bit D/A Converter bitt-bur brown

Retail price is $330 dollars

but you can buy it off of ebay for ~$ 150
http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-AM-FM-CD-MP...QQcmdZViewItem

This is probably Sony's best head unit when it comes to sound quality.
Probably not as good as Kenwoods top models, but it does pose a challenge for a cheaper price.

[pimprolla112]

Few months late on this one, and sony, best and sq dont belong in the same sentence. But this is of course my opinion.

[PaulD]

"- Intelligent Time Alignment (I-TA) (puts you in the center of the
sound stage/ can customize it for each speaker) "

why in the world would you want to be in the center of the soundstage ?

" DSO 3d (Allows you to adjust virtual elevation, depth, width) "

I would love to see what freq manipulations they are using

"- BBE MP (comes mostly with all sony head units)"

don't use BBE, it works by creating even order harmonic distortion and adding it into the signal.

"- HDEQ (Allows you to adjust each speaker (FL, FR, RL, and RR)
independently)"

that's a nice thing to have, makes tuning a LOT easier

[mariachi153]

Originally Posted by PaulD

" DSO 3d (Allows you to adjust virtual elevation, depth, width) "

I would love to see what freq manipulations they are using

"- BBE MP (comes mostly with all sony head units)"

don't use BBE, it works by creating even order harmonic distortion and adding it into the signal.

I only use DSO 3d when I have to... when another person is in the passenger side, i raise the virtual elevation up. Otherwise, it does sound unnatural, but relatively decent.

Yes, I noticed a long time ago that BBE was completely crap. It tinnies the highs and muddies the mids. You'll better off not using it. DSO 3d is more of a gimick than an actual feature. Other than that, it is a good sounding head unit.

[PaulD]

actually, BBE will make the voice sounds easier to understand ..... the military figured that out in like the 40's or 50's. But it's also easy to overdue.